Patents by Inventor Heikki Ojamo
Heikki Ojamo has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 7625728Abstract: Effective processes are provided for the production of xylitol and ethanol and other products from solutions derived from lignocellulose-containing material in biomass. The solutions can be hydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed before being fermented with microbes. The fermented solution can be distilled and can be subsequently separated, such as, by chromatographic separation, membrane separation, etc. The recovered xylitol solution can be crystallized to provide pure xylitol crystals.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2006Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: Danisco Sweeteners OyInventors: Olli-Pekka Eroma, Heikki Heikkila, Heikki Ojamo, Päivi Sarmala, Göran Hyöky, Leena Rahkila, Marja-Leena Sarkki, Tapio Viljava
-
Patent number: 7482144Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of xylitol, the method comprising (a1) providing (i) a microorganism having xylanolytic activity, and (ii) a microorganism capable of converting a pentose sugar to xylitol; or (a2) providing a microorganism having xylanolytic activity and being capable of converting a pentose sugar to xylitol, (b) culturing the microorganism of step (a1) (i) or the microorganism of step (a2) in a medium comprising polymer or oligomer materials containing pentose sugars in conditions sufficient for enabling hydrolysis of said polymers or oligomers by the microorganism; (c) producing xylitol in the microorganism of step (a1) (ii) or in the microorganism of step (a2) by bioconversion of the hydrolysis products obtained in step (b), and (d) recovering said xylitol produced. The invention also relates to a microorganism, which has xylanolytic activity and has been genetically modified (i) to enhance its xylanolytic activity, and (ii) to reduce its xylitol metabolism.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2003Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: Danisco Sweeteners OyInventors: Heikki Ojamo, Merja Penttila, Heikki Heikkila, Jaana Uusitalo, Marja Ilmen, Marja-Leena Sarkki, Maija-Leena Vehkomaki
-
Publication number: 20080038779Abstract: The invention relates to the methods of manufacturing five-carbon sugars and sugar alcohols as well as other compounds derived from pentose-phosphate pathway from readily available substrates such a hexoses using metabolically engineered microbial hosts.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2007Publication date: February 14, 2008Inventors: Andrei Miasnikov, Heikki Ojamo, Mira Povelainen, Hakan Gros, Mervi Toivari, Peter Richard, Laura Ruohonen, Kari Koivuranta, John Londesborough, Aristos Aristidou, Merja Penttila, Claire Plazanet-Menut, Josef Deutscher
-
Patent number: 7226761Abstract: The invention relates to the methods of manufacturing five-carbon sugars and sugar alcohols as well as other compounds derived from pentose-phosphate pathway from readily available substrates such a hexoses using metabolically engineered microbial hosts.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2001Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: Danisco Sweeteners OyInventors: Andrei Miasnikov, Heikki Ojamo, Mira Povelainen, Hakan Gros, Mervi Toivari, Peter Richard, Laura Ruohonen, Kari Koivuranta, John Londesborough, Aristos Aristidou, Merja Penttila, Claire Plazanet-Menut, Josef Deutscher
-
Publication number: 20060246563Abstract: Effective processes are provided for the production of xylitol and ethanol and other products from solutions derived from lignocellulose-containing material in biomass. The solutions can be hydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed before being fermented with microbes. The fermented solution can be distilled and can be subsequently separated, such as, by chromatographic separation, membrane separation, etc. The recovered xylitol solution can be crystallized to provide pure xylitol crystals.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2006Publication date: November 2, 2006Inventors: Olli-Pekka Eroma, Heikki Heikkila, Heikki Ojamo, Paivi Sarmala, Goran Hyoky, Leena Rahkila, Marja-Leena Sarkki, Tapio Viljava
-
Patent number: 7109005Abstract: Effective processes are provided for the production of xylitol and ethanol and other products from solutions derived from lignocellulose-containing material in biomass. The solutions can be hydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed before being fermented with microbes. The fermented solution can be distilled and can be subsequently separated, such as, by chromatographic separation, membrane separation, etc. The recovered xylitol solution can be crystallized to provide pure xylitol crystals.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2001Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Danisco Sweeteners OyInventors: Olli-Pekka Eroma, Heikki Heikkila, Heikki Ojamo, Päivi Sarmala, Göran Hyöky, Leena Rahkila, Marja-Leena Sarkki, Tapio Viljava
-
Patent number: 6911565Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of xylitol. The process utilises ribulose for the preparation of xylitol and involves several different conversion reactions, such as reduction, epimerisation and/or isomerisation. The present invention also relates to the use of ribulose for the preparation of xylitol.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2002Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Assignee: Danico Sweetners OyInventors: Heikki Heikkilä, Heikki Ojamo, Andrei Miasnikov, Vili Ravanko, Matti Tylli
-
Patent number: 6894199Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of xylitol. In particular, processes utilising L-xylose as an intermediate for xylitol production are described. The present invention also relates to process for the preparation or L-xylose, as an intermediate, by-product or end-product to be used per se.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2002Date of Patent: May 17, 2005Assignee: Danisco Sweeteners OyInventors: Heikki Heikkilä , Heikki Ojamo, Matti Tylli, Vili Ravanko, Juha Nurmi, Piia Haimi, Raimo Alen, Hannu Koivikko
-
Publication number: 20040014185Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of xylitol, the method comprisingType: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2003Publication date: January 22, 2004Applicant: Danisco Sweeteners OyInventors: Heikki Ojamo, Merja Penttila, Heikki Heikkila, Jaana Uusitalo, Marja Ilmen, Marja-Leena Sarkki, Maija-Leena Vehkomaki
-
Patent number: 6602691Abstract: The invention relates to the production of mannitol by bioconversion with the aid of immobilized micro-organisms as well as to the use of the mannitol and by-products formed in the conversion process. In said process a solution containing a substrate convertible into mannitol is fed into contact with solid carrier particles containing viable mannitol-forming microorganism cells immobilized in and/or on said particles. The solution is reconditioned between successive conversion steps in order to provide conversion of a major portion of said substrate into mannitol.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2001Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: Xyrofin OyInventors: Heikki Ojamo, Hannu Koivikko, Heikki Heikkilä
-
Publication number: 20030125588Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of xylitol. The process utilises ribulose for the preparation of xylitol and involves several different conversion reactions, such as reduction, epimerisation and/or isomerisation. The present invention also relates to the use of ribulose for the preparation of xylitol.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2002Publication date: July 3, 2003Applicant: Danisco Sweeteners OyInventors: Heikki Heikkila, Heikki Ojamo, Andrei Miasnikov, Vili Ravanko, Matti Tylli
-
Patent number: 6582944Abstract: This invention relates to recombinant-DNA-technology. Specifically this invention relates to new recombinant yeast strains transformed with xylose reductase and/or xylitol dehydrogenase enzyme genes. A yeast strain transformed with the xylose reductase gene is capable of reducing xylose to xylitol and consequently of producing xylitol in vivo. If both of these genes are transformed into a yeast strain, the resultant strain is capable of producing ethanol on xylose containing medium during fermentation. Further, the said new yeast strains are capable of expressing the said two enzymes. Xylose reductase produced by these strains can be used in an enzymatic process for the production of xylitol in vitro.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 1999Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Xyrofin OyInventors: Johan Hallborn, Merja Penttilä, Heikki Ojamo, Mats Walfridsson, Ulla Airaksinen, Sirkka Keränen, Bärbel Hahn-Hägerdal
-
Publication number: 20030097029Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of xylitol. In particular, processes utilising L-xylose as an intermediate for xylitol production are described. The present invention also relates to process for the preparation or L-xylose, as an intermediate, by-product or end-product to be used per se.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2002Publication date: May 22, 2003Inventors: Heikki Heikkila, Heikki Ojamo, Matti Tylli, Vili Ravanko, Juha Nurmi, Piia Haimi, Raimo Alen, Hannu Koivikko
-
Publication number: 20030068791Abstract: The invention relates to the methods of manufacturing five-carbon sugars and sugar alcohols as well as other compounds derived from pentose-phosphate pathway from readily available substrates such a hexoses using metabolically engineered microbial hosts.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2001Publication date: April 10, 2003Applicant: Xyrofin OyInventors: Andrei Miasnikov, Heikki Ojamo, Mira Povelainen, Hakan Gros, Mervi Toivari, Peter Richard, Laura Ruohonen, Kari Koivuranta, John Londesborough, Aristos Aristidou, Merja Penttila, Claire Plazanet-Menut, Josef Deutscher
-
Publication number: 20020164731Abstract: Effective processes are provided for the production of xylitol and ethanol and other products from solutions derived from lignocellulose-containing material in biomass. The solutions can be hydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed before being fermented with microbes. The fermented solution can be distilled and can be subsequently separated, such as, by chromatographic separation, membrane separation, etc. The recovered xylitol solution can be crystallized to provide pure xylitol crystals.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2001Publication date: November 7, 2002Inventors: Olli-Pekka Eroma, Heikki Heikkila, Heikki Ojamo, Paivi Sarmala, Goran Hyoky, Leena Rahkila, Marja-Leena Sarkki, Tapio Viljava
-
Patent number: 5866382Abstract: This invention relates to recombinant-DNA-technology. Specifically, this invention relates to new recombinant yeast strains transformed with xylose reductase and/or xylitol dehydrogenase enzyme genes. A yeast strain transformed with the xylose reductase gene is capable of reducing xylose to xylitol and consequently of producing xylitol in vivo. If both of these genes are transformed into a yeast strain, the resultant strain is capable of producing ethanol on xylose containing medium during fermentation. Further, the said new yeast strains are capable of expressing the said two enzymes. Xylose reductase produced by these strains can be used in an enzymatic process for the production of xylitol in vitro.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 1994Date of Patent: February 2, 1999Assignee: Xyrofin OyInventors: Johan Hallborn, Merja Penttila, Heikki Ojamo, Mats Walfridsson, Ulla Airaksinen, Sirkka Keranen, Barbel Hahn-Hagerdal